SCU vs. Emerson

Deciding between Santa Clara University and Emerson College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Clara University
Emerson College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Emerson Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • Emerson 5,263
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • Emerson #208
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Emerson -
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • Emerson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • Emerson $20,920
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • Emerson $53,432
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • Emerson $26,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • Emerson 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • Emerson 10,378
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • Emerson 5,325
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • Emerson 1350
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • Emerson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • Emerson 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • Emerson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Emerson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • Emerson Low
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • Emerson 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • Emerson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • Emerson 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • Emerson 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • Emerson $49,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • Emerson 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • Emerson $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • Emerson $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • Emerson 29%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • Emerson 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • Emerson Medium
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • Emerson No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • Emerson 67%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • Emerson 4%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • Emerson 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • Emerson 11%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • Emerson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • Emerson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • Emerson 4%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • Emerson 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • Emerson 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • Emerson 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • Emerson 67%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SCU Yes
  • Emerson Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SCU No
  • Emerson No
  • Meal Plan
  • SCU Yes
  • Emerson Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SCU No
  • Emerson No
  • Daycare Facility
  • SCU Yes
  • Emerson No

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Emerson College in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Clara University is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Emerson College is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Emerson College 14:1.

SCU vs. Emerson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or Emerson? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Emerson College than SCU ($53,432 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Clara University are 4.9% lower than at Emerson College ($19,893 vs. $20,920).
  • Santa Clara University is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $4,237 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at SCU than at Emerson College (about $4,237 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Santa Clara University (77% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Clara University students is 5.1% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($28,368 vs. $26,997).

SCU vs. Emerson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or Emerson? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Emerson and SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is 70 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming SCU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Emerson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Emerson College 1270/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Emerson College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; Emerson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; Emerson Feb 20, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than SCU (48%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 15.5% at Emerson.

SCU vs. Emerson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and Emerson? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Santa Clara University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Emerson College's (81%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $32,700 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($222 vs. $242).
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.